Misconceptions and Facts About Cardiac Amyloidosis

Felix D Nguyen; Mario Rodriguez; Chayakrit Krittanawong; Ronald Witteles; Daniel J Lenihan

doi:10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.08.045

Misconceptions and Facts About Cardiac Amyloidosis

Am J Cardiol. 2021 Dec 1:160:99-105. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.08.045. Epub 2021 Oct 3.

Authors

Felix D Nguyen¹, Mario Rodriguez², Chayakrit Krittanawong³, Ronald Witteles⁴, Daniel J Lenihan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine. Electronic address: nguyenfd@wustl.edu.
² Division of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
³ Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
⁴ Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

PMID: 34610875
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.08.045

Abstract

Cardiac amyloidosis is an important clinical entity associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the signs and symptoms can be apparent early in the disease course, diagnoses are often made late because of inadequate recognition. A diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis requires careful scrutiny of a patient's symptoms, an electrocardiogram, and imaging studies, including echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Further evaluation is required through the measurement of serum and urine light chains and the use of bone scintigraphy imaging to differentiate transthyretin amyloidosis from light-chain cardiac amyloidosis. The available treatments have expanded tremendously in recent years and have improved outcomes in the population with this disorder. Thus, it has become increasingly important to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis and provide timely therapies. This article will clarify the various misconceptions about cardiac amyloidosis and provide a framework for primary care providers to better identify this disease in their practice.

MeSH terms

Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / diagnosis
Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / epidemiology
Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / physiopathology
Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial / therapy
Amyloidosis / diagnosis*
Amyloidosis / epidemiology
Amyloidosis / physiopathology
Amyloidosis / therapy
Aniline Compounds
Assisted Circulation
Atrial Fibrillation / physiopathology
Atrial Fibrillation / therapy
Cardiac Imaging Techniques
Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis*
Cardiomyopathies / epidemiology
Cardiomyopathies / physiopathology
Cardiomyopathies / therapy
Diagnosis, Differential
Echocardiography
Electrocardiography
Ethylene Glycols
Humans
Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / diagnosis
Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / epidemiology
Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / physiopathology
Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / therapy
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Positron-Emission Tomography
Radiopharmaceuticals
Stilbenes

Substances

Aniline Compounds
Ethylene Glycols
Radiopharmaceuticals
Stilbenes
florbetapir
4-(N-methylamino)-4'-(2-(2-(2-fluoroethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)stilbene

Supplementary concepts

Amyloidosis, Hereditary, Transthyretin-Related